MovieChat Forums > Chasing Mummies (2010) Discussion > Is this meant to look obviously fake?

Is this meant to look obviously fake?

posted 14 years ago by standrkm
23 replies | jump to latest

Look, I love Ancient Egypt, and I respect Hawass but this is a total joke. They seem to be scripting all this cheap drama and focusing on these little brats more than the beautiful and mysterious Egypt. I just can't watch it anymore it's sad, you don't really learn anything by watching this show other than how immature and disrespectful these kids are. Can someone tell me what the point of it all is? Is this more proof that reality television has taken over Animal Planet, Discovery, and History Channel? Is this all I have to look forward to, dog groomers, pawn shop hustlers, and fake archaeologists?

"Civilization V is about to be released, and it looks awesome"

[–] Poisoned_Dragon1964 14 years ago

You'd be shocked to see how many posters here are getting drawn into the narrative, and are looking at it as though it were real, although some qualify their statements with "I don't know how much of this is scripted, but..."

Perhaps Hawass was pressured into participating by the Discovery Network, by telling him that they weren't going to produce any more shows profiling Egypt or his discoveries, unless he acquiesced to the current television trend?

I keep telling myself that if I'm patient, and wait long enough, the reality TV trend will fade away... but another part of me wonders if I'll be able to stand it much longer. I also wonder, what will be left in its wake? Ignorance and scorched earth? A viewing public whose stupidity and short attention span makes them incapable of watching real educational programming?

§« The Sleep of Reason Produces Monsters. »§

[–] Mithrandir-Olorin2 14 years ago

Their criticizing Hawass's character, and it's consistent with stuff we knew long before this show came along.

Hawass knows how he's viewed and has to get off on it, like Karl Rove playing evil genius when he first came to Fox news with his lane white chalk board thing.

"I know what Harvey Dent did last summer?"

[–] Poisoned_Dragon1964 14 years ago

I don't agree. They're criticizing scripted antics as though any of it were reflective of reality; they think (and evidently you do, too) that this is how Dr Hawass really is.

It may be that Hawass is so intoxicated by media attention that he doesn't yet realize the damage that participating in reality TV will do to his reputation and to the cause of Egyptology. He will eventually find out.

It's like "Dancing Judge Ito" - there's a permanent loss of dignity.

I've never seen Karl Rove on Fox; one would have to watch Fox to see that. What were you doing watching it?

I have last night's episode on DVR. I need to watch it.

§« The Sleep of Reason Produces Monsters. »§

[–] Mithrandir-Olorin2 14 years ago

I haven't watched this show.

I know how he is cause I follow archeology, the opinion I have of him right now was developed long before this show was greenlite.

I periodical check in on all 5 propaganda networks.

"I know what Harvey Dent did last summer?"

[–] Poisoned_Dragon1964 14 years ago

You don't follow archaeology; what you follow is crackpot internet sites. One does not get one's archaeology from Answers in Genesis, Chuck Missler, David Rohl, and Prison Planet.

Have you seen a single one of the programs I linked elsewhere on this thread? Or any other serious archaeological programs (and by 'serious,' I don't mean 'The Naked Archaeologist'?

By "propaganda networks" you're referring to the Discovery, Nat Geo, and History Channels? 3/4 of what they now broadcast is trash, but I wouldn't call it propaganda.

§« The Sleep of Reason Produces Monsters. »§

[–] Mithrandir-Olorin2 14 years ago

I get my knowledge fomr far more then just kind of sites, Prison Planet never deals with Archaeology.

No I refer the news networks there, cause you asked why I was watching Fox.

"I know what Harvey Dent did last summer?"

[–] standrkm 14 years ago

Yeah I really want to like the show, I feel as if I should keep tuned into it so that it gets good enough ratings because I want to see more about the subject. But it's like American Pickers has the better idea and that show keeps me interested and I believe it to be real. This show is like "Ghost Hunters" for me, I wanna see real evidence, but now all I see is junk. I think Hawass is very aware of how U.S. television makes whomever reality star they are filming look bad, maybe this way he's playing it safe by making Americans look bad and keeping his secrets safe with his people.
Maybe it will get better I kinda like Hawass, he's stubborn, doesn't make small talk and knows what he's doing. You see he tried to get rid of his Archeologist fellows in that desert walk but they made it unfortunately, lol.

"when I'm gone I want you to be happy for me"

[–] Poisoned_Dragon1964 14 years ago

You see he tried to get rid of his Archeologist fellows in that desert walk but they made it unfortunately, lol.

You're buying into it. They're not archaeological fellows - they're actors. Their ups and downs with Hawass are scripted.

If you want to see real evidence, real Egyptology, then watch other programs:

The Lost Pyramid (2008)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1286157/

Egypt Unwrapped (2008) (eight episodes)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1345229/

Secrets of Egypt's Lost Queen (2007)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1063339/

Secrets of the Pyramids (2003)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0817505/

Into the Great Pyramid (2002)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0817505/

These are quality programs.

§« The Sleep of Reason Produces Monsters. »§

[–] standrkm 14 years ago

Thanks, I'll check those out. I have seen all ten of the Ancient Egypt hour long epsisodes. They are great but the narrator really makes you sleepy. I also love "why Egypt fell" "the 10 greatest discoveries" "seven wonders of ancient Egypt" are a must watch!
The 8 episodes of "Magical Egypt" are good, the secret trg" is silly but "Ancient Astronauts" is great.

"When there is nothing left fit to eat, survival of the fittest becomes the fittest"

[–] Poisoned_Dragon1964 14 years ago

"Ancient Astronauts" is great.

……………………………………..________
………………………………,.-‘”……………….“~.,
………………………..,.-”……………………………..“-.,
…………………….,/………………………………………..”:,
…………………,?………………………………………………\,
………………./…………………………………………………..,}
……………../………………………………………………,:`^`..}
……………/……………………………………………,:”………/
…………..?…..__…………………………………..:`………../
…………./__.(…..“~-,_…………………………,:`………./
………../(_….”~,_……..“~,_………………..,:`…….._/
……….{.._$;_……”=,_…….“-,_…….,.-~-,},.~”;/….}
………..((…..*~_…….”=-._……“;,,./`…./”…………../
…,,,___.\`~,……“~.,………………..`…..}…………../
…………(….`=-,,…….`……………………(……;_,,-”
…………/.`~,……`-………………………….\……/\
………….\`~.*-,……………………………….|,./…..\,__
,,_……….}.>-._\……………………………..|…………..`=~-,
…..`=~-,_\_……`\,……………………………\
……………….`=~-,,.\,………………………….\
…………………………..`:,,………………………`\…………..__
……………………………….`=-,……………….,%`>–==“
…………………………………._\……….._,-%…….`\
……………………………..,< `.._|_,-&``................`\

§« The Sleep of Reason Produces Monsters. »§

[–] standrkm 14 years ago

Sorry but is that two hands opening a book?
"Ancient Astronauts' is good, the original that is. The t.v. series sucks though. If you think we're alone in the universe then your a complete idiot. Nasa's Kepler Mission just found 700 potential planets.

"never call someone crazy, until you've been in their situation"

[–] Poisoned_Dragon1964 14 years ago

No, that's the Picard Facepalm.

"Ancient Astronauts' is good, the original that is. The t.v. series sucks though. If you think we're alone in the universe then your a complete idiot. Nasa's Kepler Mission just found 700 potential planets.

I found both the pilot and the series to be completely worthless. At least Chariots of the Gods (1970) was entertaining, if silly.

The issue of probabilities is not the same as proof. As yet, there is still no proof.

I hope you're not one of those who thinks ancient astronauts built the pyramids.

§« The Sleep of Reason Produces Monsters. »§

[–] standrkm 14 years ago

At first I thought it was a man holding his face as to say, not this alien crap again, lol.

No I don't think mother-ships came down and levitated rocks. But I do have my own opinion on many things surrounding the ancients that wouldn't be popular with Hawass, lol.

As proof of alien life, I would say it's harder to disprove than prove they exist.

"yesterday when I was young"

[–] Poisoned_Dragon1964 14 years ago

But I do have my own opinion on many things surrounding the ancients that wouldn't be popular with Hawass, lol.

Such as?

As proof of alien life, I would say it's harder to disprove than prove they exist.

What proof?

§« The Sleep of Reason Produces Monsters. »§

[–] standrkm 14 years ago

I'm not going to try and explain anything here. It's kinda like archaeologists are the doctors/surgeons looking at JFK's skull while there are many other questions surrounding his death we still don't know about and probably never will. That's how I feel humanity is right now, most of us are too busy looking at a crime scene when we should be out finding witnesses and making connections.

Like I said, try and prove that alien life doesn't exist in our vast universe. We haven't even come close to seeing what's in our own oceans.

"you have two ears and one mouth, so you should be listening twice as much as you speak"

[–] ethereal_tb 14 years ago

I was willing to go along with most of it being "real" (not the set-up situations, obvsiously) until last night's ep when the Bedouin tribe just "happened" to find them in the middle of the desert when they needed help! I mean, REALLY? COME ON!!!

"You might very well think that; I couldn't possibly comment."

[–] Poisoned_Dragon1964 14 years ago

They're never truly lost or in danger; they're accompanied at all times by a larger film crew, who never appear on camera. There are no "real" situations - none whatsoever.

§« The Sleep of Reason Produces Monsters. »§

[–] ethereal_tb 14 years ago

"they're accompanied at all times by a larger film crew, who never appear on camera"

Have you actually seen the show? The crew (and cameramen) are on camera all of the time! Regardless, even if you have a troop of cameramen following you, you COULD be in peril in the desert. It's not like film crews are known for their survival skills. Anyhow, they weren't in danger anyway. All that would've happened is they'd have been hungry. They had water and weren't going to die because they didn't eat for a day.

"You might very well think that; I couldn't possibly comment."

[–] Poisoned_Dragon1964 14 years ago

Those are the crew you're meant to see; it's a much larger operation than that. The idea that there's only one or two cameramen accompanying them, who are in the same predicament as they are, is scripted drama. It's something all reality TV programs do. The ones you see are actors as well.

§« The Sleep of Reason Produces Monsters. »§

[–] ethereal_tb 14 years ago

Well, yeah, obviously there are more crew than we see. I don't think it matters how many crew there are as to whether it is real or not. It is the situations that make it obvious that it is staged. A friend who was on one ep of a reality show said that real moments happen, but then they make you do them over and over again to get a good "shot" and that is what makes so much of reality TV look obviously fake. So some of the things in CM might have happened for real, but then were "acted out" by the participants for the cameras. (*shrug*)

I don't watch any reality TV, so I'm not expert. I only tuned into this show accidentally. I'm a History Channel junkie (have seen most of the docs mentioned by Poisoned Dragon) and this came on after something else, so that's how I got interested initially. I was only half-assed watching it while doing other things, so wasn't paying THAT close attention until the Oasis/Bedouin incident.

"You might very well think that; I couldn't possibly comment."

[–] standrkm 14 years ago

I know, it seems they're trying to do that survival show stuff now. I mean who puts meat in a cooler with no ice? The guy did puke a bit, that was real, couldn't fake that, lol.

"how could you say that, that poop, poop"

[–] holbrookp 14 years ago

The thing that struck me immediately about the issue of running out of food is that there could be no sense of danger other than an inconvenience. Someone as important as Hawass would not be going into the desert with a TV crew without a number of ways to communicate with outside sources. So the food issue wasn't that big of a deal.

"Truth is its own evidence." - Ralph Waldo Emerson

[–] standrkm 14 years ago

Yeah, I run out of food all the time with my friends, but we always have beer. The whole show is just way too dramatic. So the meat went completely "bad" after only two hours? LOL. He even walked up to the ice chest with the whole ugghhhh routine, what a joke. Who writes this crap anyway, the ghost hunters crew.

"Lies are backed by more lies, truth stands on it's own"